Metal-holding apparatus for flat-bed lithographic-printing presses



- PATBNTED JAN. 5, 1904.

' W. J; LBYER.. METAL HOLDING APPARATUS PoR PLAT BED LITHQGRAPHIG PRINTING PRESSES, APPLIGATION FILED DBO. 1, i902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

WILLIAM J. LEYER, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

METAL-HOLDING APPARATUS FOR FLAT-BED LITHOGBAPHlC-PRINTING PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,871, dated January 5, 1904. Application filed December 1, 1902. Serial No. 133,444. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. LEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in thevcounty of Erie and .State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Metal-Holding Apparatuses for Flat- Bed Lithographie-Printing Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metal-plate-holding apparatuses for flatbed lithographieprinting presses; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Heretofore great diiculty has been experienced in utilizing zinc oraluninium plates on fiat-bed lithographie presses. The leading object of my invention isV to provide an apparatus by means of which such plate may be used in such a press.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure l shows a plan view of the device;

Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 in Fig. l; Fig.

3, an elevation of the device from the right of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the device.

A marks the metallic plate, ordinarily a zinc or aluminium plate; B, the bed. The bed is provided with the plane surface, which forms a backing for the plate. The ,ends ofv the bed are rounded at b, so as to relieve the plate at the angle as it is drawn over the corner. A clamp C, formed of the jaws C' and C2, is secured to the bed. The jaw-surfaces c c adjacentto the bed-surface are arranged at an angle to the plane of the bed-surfaces L and approximately in line with the plate asV it is drawn over the corner b in order to relieve the plate from a sharp bend at the edge of the clamp. By this means a much greater strain may be put upon the plate without breaking it. The clamp 'is provided with the clam ping-screws C3, and the clamp is secured to the bed by the screws C4.

A sliding frame D is arranged at the opposite end of the Vbed B. It has the dovetail guides d, which travel in the grooves b. Adjusting-screws d' extend through the frame into contact with the shoulder b2 of the bed. There are preferably two of these adjustingscrews-one at each end-and the guides d are so loosely iitted in the groove d as to permit one endv of the frame to be moved to a greater extent than the other for purposes hereinafter described. A bolt d2 is secured to the shoulder b2 and extends through the frame D. A nut d3 is arranged on the bolt d2 and against .the frame D. The purpose of this bolt is to make a convenient means for returning the `frame to its inner position and also for lockthe purposes described in relation .to the` clamp C. The clamp is secured to the frame D byscrews E4.

After a plate vis secured in the clamps C and E the clamps are secured to the bed and frame, and thus the frame D is moved outwardly through the action of the screws d d' until ,the plate is subjected to su'icient strain to flatten it. If it is necessary to move one side of the frame D more than the other in order to Hatten the plate, this may be accomplished by the means heretofore described-namely, the screws d d. The bed is set in the press preferably in a manner ordinarily used with lithographie stones. It accomplishes the purposes of a lithographie stone. The initial cost is very much less. The cost of the plate is such that it is feasible to store' the plates, so thatl copies may be struck od, as desired, While the cost and bulk of the stone is such that this is not practical.

It will be noted that the jaws extend across the plate, thus assuring an even strain on the different portions of the plate.

What I claim as new isl. In a metal-plate-holding apparatus for flat-bed lithographie presses the combination of a bed having a surface; clamps arranged below the plane of said surface; and means for moving one of said clamps to strain the plate and formoving one side of said clamp to a greater extent than the other.

2. In a metal-plate-holding apparatus for flat-bed photolithographic printing presses the combination of a bed havinga plane surface; clamps arranged below the plane of said surface, said clamps having their jaw-surfaces extending continuously along the edge of the plate; and means for moving one of said clamps to strain the plate and for moving one side of said clamp to a greater extent than the other.

3. In a metal-plate-holding apparatus for flat-bed lithographie presses, the combination of the bed B having a plane surface forming a backing for the plate; the clamps C and E arranged at the ends of the plate and to be opened and closed by a movement in a direction at right angles in the plane of the plate on the bed, said clamps comprising the trough-shaped jaws C E' and the upper jaws C2 E2 fitting therein the plane of the faces of the jaws along the edge being in line With the plate where it enters the jaws and the clamping-bolts E3 said clamps being arranged below the surface of the bed B.

4. In a metal-plate-holding apparatus for flat-bed lithographie presses, the combination of the bed B having a plane surface thereon and the rounded corners b thereon; the movable frame D arranged to permit greater movement at one end than at the other: screws d d for moving said frame; the

clamp C secured to said bed and the clamp E secured to said movable frame, said clamps being below the surface of the bed B.

5. In a metalplateholding apparatus for flat-bed lithographie presses, the combina tion of the bed B having a plane surface thereon; the movable frame D arranged to permit greater movement at-one end than at the other; screws d' d for moving said frame; the clamp (l secured to said bed and the clamp E secured to said movable frame, said clamps being below the surface of the bed B. 6. In a metal-plate-holding apparatus for flat-bed lithographicvpresses, the combinationV of the bed B having a plane surface thereon; the rounded corners b thereon; the movable frame D arranged to permit greater movement at one end than at the other; screws d d for moving said frame; the clamp C secured to said bed and the clamp E secured to said movable frame, said clamp being below the surface of the bed B; and the bolt d3 for the purpose described.

7.'In a metal-plate-holding apparatus for flat-bed lithographie presses, the combina- WILLIAM J. LEYER.

\ Witnesses:

H. C. LORD, MARGARET SULLIVAN. 

